GOP watch: New initiative

Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:14 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

Roll Call on the new GOP group: "In an effort to shed the 'party of no' label, Congressional Republican leaders will launch a new initiative on Thursday outlining solutions the GOP hopes will convince Americans that they have tenable solutions to the issues gripping the country.”

More: “The program, dubbed the National Council for a New America, which will involve town-hall-style meetings, will include not only House and Senate Republicans but also a panel of former and current state lawmakers whose roster reads like a who’s who of potential 2012 presidential contenders, including former Govs. Jeb Bush (Fla.) and Mitt Romney (Mass.). A pair of current governors, Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and Haley Barbour of Mississippi, will also join the group, according to a letter obtained by Roll Call. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the party’s 2008 presidential hopeful, will fill out the panel of 'experts.'"

The New York Times: “A fundamental debate broke out among Republicans on Wednesday over how to rebuild the party in the wake of Senator Arlen Specter’s departure: Should it purge moderate voices like Mr. Specter and embrace its conservative roots or seek to broaden its appeal to regain a competitive position against Democrats?”

Stu Rothenberg, writing in Roll Call, says Specter's switch "both reflects the depth of the problems facing the GOP and could begin a new chapter for some Democratic officeholders who will face additional political challenges down the road."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

I think these repugs have really lost it! I understand they are starting a re-branding effort now under a National Council of a New America - and who do they have running it? - the same anchors that are sinking their party of NO - John NO-BRoehner, STEWART Jindal, Can't-or and bitch Mitch. OMG, LOL!!! Keep it up guys - you ARE the definition of insanity - doing the same things over and over and over again, expecting different results.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:19 AM)

This new council is just a rehash of Neuter Gingrich's contract out on America. Nothing new here for America, just a new label to hide the fact that the evil elephant party has no new ideas. The members are just a bunch of nobody's, a Who's that of sore loser wannabees?

Just Say No to Evil Elephants!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:21 AM)

So will this be typical of Republican Town meetings where only supporters are invited and they will only answer questions that let them pontificate on the usualRepublican positions and values? Or will they have the guts to open it up to "everyone" and take hard questions from the middle class and poor?

ARJ (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:23 AM)

>>> “The program, dubbed the National Council for a New America, which will involve town-hall-style meetings, will include not only House and Senate Republicans but also a panel of former and current state lawmakers whose roster reads like a who’s who of potential 2012 presidential contenders, including former Govs. Jeb Bush (Fla.) and Mitt Romney (Mass.). A pair of current governors, Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and Haley Barbour of Mississippi, will also join the group, according to a letter obtained by Roll Call. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the party’s 2008 presidential hopeful, will fill out the panel of 'experts.'"
==========
Exactly what is "new" about this group. It's the same cast of "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" we've been seeing all along. They really don't get it. They believe if they keep pushing the same old message of tax cuts for the wealthy, spend more money on war, and keep the culture war going, eventually they'll be able to brainwash enough people to re-join them. The thing about brainwashing, though, is once it's broken, you can't "re-wash" it. America has broken the brainwashing it has been subjected to for the past 8 years, and nothing these idiots say or do is going to bring the country back to their direction.

"...your country is not coming back to you. She's found somebody new. And, I hate to tell you, it's a black guy." - Bill Maher

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:29 AM)

“The program, dubbed the National Council for a New America,"

You have a typo ... shouldn't it be "Amerika"

I can just see the GOP storm troopers marching in with banners flying, goose stepping, and saluting graven images of "Karl" Rove, Pill Poppin' Limbaugh and fallen comrade W!

I can see the new Amerika ... rows and rows of barracks to house all citizens who don't toe the GOP Amerika propaganda!

What will they think of next? I know ... Grow well cropped mustaches!

Rafael DeJesus, Roswell, GA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:34 AM)

meet the new boss, same as the old boss

j underwood (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:41 AM)

The National Council for a New America is a copy of President Obama's town meetings. It will bring in dye-hard conservatives as they are the only republicans that have any interest. It will not change much. It's about leadership and ideas, which that GOP are lacking. With the conservatives in charge, watch for the GOP ship to continue to sink.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:44 AM)

PLEASE! The GOP are truly delusional if they think that another plethora of platitudes of new names like National Council for a new America will all of a sudden turn things around for them. They had their chance and blew it because they allowed the religious nut cases to dictate policy vis-vis-vis Rove scheming ways that thankfully backfired. Obviously, a clear majority of voters starting in 2006 had enough and voted them out. The adnauseum of tax cuts for the whthy, slash programs that benefits millions of middle class, throw in some hate/fear mongering and you got yourself a white, regional party that has no chance of regaining national prominence with growing democraphics that does not bode well for this party. They better start turning SHARPLY towards the middle or they will have no chance in hell but to REBUILT THEMSELVES and stay away from the American version of the Taliban ie., Palin and her merry group of white men who salivate over her like Buchcanon.

Juan,FT Lauderdale,FL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:45 AM)

"Roll Call on the new GOP group: 'In an effort to shed the 'party of no' label, Congressional Republican leaders will launch a new initiative on Thursday outlining solutions the GOP hopes will convince Americans that they have tenable solutions to the issues gripping the country.'"

-----------------------------------------

"Tenable"...does anyone in the GOP know what that word means?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:47 AM)

The only thing better would be seeing Palin and Huckleberry listed as their HMFIC`s. The party is never going to prosper as long as they need to apologize to Limpballs every-time they open their traps.The lost agenda of abortion, gay marriage, and "NO" needs to be replaced with hope reasonalbe debate and what`s good for America. Anyone really think that will happen? Care to buy a bridge?

Joe Wastinski (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:49 AM)

With all this useless hype, they don't mention the only one who kept the GOP in the last race at all; Sarah Palin. McCain hates her and the old party has ignored her even during the campaign. There is no party; and without her there never will be a "party"!

James B. Perry; Ft.Lauderdale FL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:50 AM)

I believe the best hope for the GOP is to turn as a party to the kind of "Compassionate Conservative" agenda that W talked about during the 2000 campaign but never lived up to. This would be a party that is fundamentally conservative about issues of government and finance, but with a strong emphasis on compassionate response to issues such as poverty, education, healthcare, and so forth. The GOP has lost its way because there is nothing they have accomplished recently to which they can point and say, "See, we care about individual persons as persons, regardless of race, gender, age, socioeconmic status..." Instead the message has consistently been for the good of the "majority", individuals be damned. Wrong message.

Travis W, Lexington, KY (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:50 AM)

The Republicans have pushed so hard and so long toward ideological purity that they have completely lost any sense of pragmatic realism. They have shut out any and all discussion of oposing ideas, which has limited them to nothing more than quoting the talking points that someone (Rush? Cheney? Karl? FOX News?) puts in front of them. As someone from a southern state, who once considered himself a moderate Republican, I can say this clearly....the Republicans are out of step with the public. Their cheap, gimmicky political platform of budget busting tax cuts, gay-baiting, and fear-mongering has lead this country to the brink of catastrophe. Thank goodness people finally woke up.

Patrick Robbins, Huntsville, AL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:52 AM)

Nice unbiased report from MSNBC. I'm sure we can expect more of the same as this new Republican initiative progresses.

Bob Right (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:54 AM)

The "new america" advocates torture,wiretaps it's citizens,'purges the moderates'invades countries on made up intelligence,and questions the patriotism of all who disagree...wow sign me up oh yeah and were against credit card reform

PD,Hartford,ct. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:56 AM)

You are all making a mistake(those who are commented against this)...you assume that George Bush junior was a Republican and that his actions as President reflected the Republican party. You are wrong. He pretended to be a Republican, so he can make people angry at the Republicans, so that the doors can open up widely for the new Messiah called Barack Hussein Obama...please don't tell me you are all this stupid...it's plain as day. We need a REAL Republican in office like Ron Paul!

John, Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:56 AM)

The GOP needs to be conservative. Trust me, after this experimental presidency with Obama the tax and spender, America will once again come to it's senses. Once this country is so far in debt, once we are taxed on air.. .you libs need to wake up.

chad, Milwaukee, wi (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:56 AM)

As long as the Republicans don't come up with the same old tired cut, cut, cut mentality we might actually see something doable. I am not holding my breath, however, seeing who is on the panel.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:56 AM)

LOL. Attention all NCNA members. Take a look around. After 8 years of war crimes, war mongering and false installment into high government office, we finally have A NEW AMERICA, so you guys can go home now, especially that Bush boy.

Chris Troy (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:57 AM)

We all know the set of "principles" that the right wing of the GOP offers, a new message will not do anything to change the party at all. Symbology over substance is still their only tactic. They have already lost that war for now, when will they grow up and create a party that includes more Americans? A tree that does not bend in the wind cracks and falls.

John Alexander, Edinboro,PA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:57 AM)

Here's why we need to fully probe the wrong-doings of no. 43 Bush: Jeb Bush in 2012.

Julie, Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:00 AM)

Come on my fellow progressives, let's keep the comments smart and classy. I have a challenge for you: Go to any Fox News article about anything political and read the comments posted there. They are crass, hateful, angry, simple-minded. Resist the urge to act like them. You're better than that. If you can't do it, please don't post. You hurt your own cause.

Doug Christian, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:00 AM)

Same losers wearing different masks. I stopped at the name, New America sounds too much like a neocon thought up name.

Mick Smith, Royalton, IL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:01 AM)

The Republican party must return to its conservative principles and leave behind the neo-con reliance on government. While Bush was excellent on social issues and court appointments, he was way to the left on spending and growth of government. This is what turned Americans against him.

No Obama is making the same mistakes as Bush but without the redeeming quality of Bush's social-conservatism. Obama has exalted abortion as the central theme of his administration while expanding government even further than Bush. In Obama'a first 100 days he has spent more than Bush and Clinton combined.

Bush was an economic leftist and that destroyed his administration. Obama is a leftist in every area so where's the change? It's change only for the worse.

Dayana Martinez, Hobbs, NM (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:03 AM)

The next President will be Obama. The Dems only get 8 years at a time. Same with the Reps.

This new program won't get the Reps the white house in 2012 but it will get it for them in 2016.

Robert, Whittier, Ca (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:03 AM)

They're talking to the wrong people. They need to be talking to those of us who have left the party. Actually, it's not as though we've left the party - it feels as though the party has left us.

Signed,
A fiscally conservative, not-a-religious-nut, live-and-let-live kind of person

Shannon, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:04 AM)

I unfortunately clicked on a hyperlink to this article, to find myself here on MSLSD. I recognize the slant, but am amazed at the vitriol of the comments. I suppose you all think a single party america is a good idea? If anything, the GOP needs to shed the image of being for the "rich" and help the average american understand that without supporting business people the "middle class" won't have a company to get a paycheck from and the poor will have less hope to ever find a job and move up into the "middle class." Unless, of course, you expect Daddy Obama to send you all a big check every month.

Maybe you should try starting a business and get a feel for what it means to risk everything you have, to build a better life for your family, in the process creating jobs and opportunity for others. Then you'll understand what hard work really is, not some 40 hour week with vacation pay, but 7 day a week, 52 weeks a year sweat, anxiety, and struggle to survive in a business climate with ever increasing government intrusion and taxation.

But then, you all probably think the wise men who founded this great nation were misguided and perhaps should have tried to be more European and Green.

Just wait until the cap and trade program boosts your electic and gas bills -- then you'll see hardship for the middle class and poor, all thanks to your Green party agenda. Maybe you can get a "green" job mowing my lawn!

Matt, Seattle (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:06 AM)

Palin as a leader of the GOP?? ROTFLMAO
She will be extremely lucky to get re-elected as the nit wit governor of Alaska, much less looked at as a viable leader in any public office in the lower 48.

Joe W, Florida (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:07 AM)

Both Republican and Democrats are two ends of the same animal (I won't say which is which, because it's irrelevant). They both want to make a "new" America or "change" America. The only change we need is to get back to the Constitution and stop expanding the government - from the left and right sides. Both sides policies are an insult to liberty and continue to erode our once great nation. I'm so happy I voted 3rd party - I refuse to let either party with their spend spend spend ideals kill our republic further.

Justin, Huntington, MA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:19 AM)

I am offended by your comments, Matt from Seattle. I have started numerous businesses and employed a great many people. I am a liberal. I've worked 12 hour days for months on end without a break. I don't expect government to carry me. But I play the game with people who don't pay for employee healthcare. Who use foreign labor; who cheat on taxes and make back-door deals. I want a level playing field and a government that is not making loopholes that penalize fair employers. I want access to affordable health care for myself and my employees. I want clean air, clean water, and a stop to global warming. Bush didn't share my values, nor does the Republican party, which seems concerned only with enriching the wealthy and greedy and ruining the environment for our children. Those are the reasons I voted for Obama and support his agenda.

Liberal Businessman, Denver, Colo. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:23 AM)

>>>With all this useless hype, they don't mention the only one who kept the GOP in the last race at all; Sarah Palin. McCain hates her and the old party has ignored her even during the campaign. There is no party; and without her there never will be a "party"!
James B. Perry; Ft.Lauderdale FL (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:50 AM)

==========
You are SOOOOOOOOOOO right! Palin is a party unto herself. Please, GOP, please keep us entertained by keeping her in the spotlight.

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:24 AM)

It certainly looks like a lot of Democrats and left wing radicals (yeah, we have them) have enjoyed reading this news article.

Now here is some advice from a fellow Republican: Embrace differences. As I heard on the news this morning, if someone agrees with 70% of the platform, welcome them. Don't let the far right dictate. We are the party of small government. Shrink it. Get it out of the home, the schools, and the culture. Then prove that we actually care about helping everyone. Let women and homosexuals (yes, I did say that) participate in the party that they feel more closely aligned with. Take a page from Teddy R. and reform the health industry. Obama won't get it done. He will just pass on the cost.

Do keep your town hall meetings like McCain's-DO NOT follow in the Obama footsteps because I can tell you, as a New Englander who has lived with town meetings all my life, Obama's meetings were NOT town meetings! Let the people talk, answer the questions, and listen to what they have to say.

Gem-rural New Hampshire (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:26 AM)

The success or failure of the Republican party in our time depends on one thing only: is there a large enough segment of our voting population who is either willing to support a strongly right-wing party, or which can be persuaded that supporting such a party is in the interests of this segment? Everything else is organizational detail, easily solved if this question can be answered in the affirmative.

The dominance of social/religious conservatives in the Republican Party sets the stage for the party's conersion into something this country has not had previously: a large, militant, European-style party of the Right. If the "Republican" label was not so well-known, this party could call itself a Christian Right party.

James Ward (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:35 AM)

I would hazard a guess that a 3rd party will emerge, perhaps led by more viable independent thinkers than we have in GOP or Dems. But while I wait for that to happen I'd caution that the GOP base comes out to vote regularly - they have always been the minority party, but they vote. The Dems should take care to notice that only Pres Obama's charisma brought out their vote this time around. Don't be so sure that the same old same old from GOP won't work next time around....

Wayne Donner, Rochester, NY (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:35 AM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1915237